Switch-stand.



PATENTED APR. 25, 1905.

R. E. BROYLES.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLIOATIDN FILED SEPT. ze, 1904.

lUNiTnn STATES Patented April 25, 1905.

ATENT Fries.,

ROBERT E. BBOYLES, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO LUTHER 1V.. CLARK, OF B[RM.I.l\l(llAn/l, ALABAMA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '788,018I` dated April 25, 1905.

Application filed September 29, 1904. Serial No. 226,584.

Be it known that l, ROBERT E. BnoYLus, a citizen ot' the United States, residing' at Birmingham, in the county ot Jefferson and State ot Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Stands, ot' which the following' is a Specification.

My invention relates to that class of switchstands which is adapted to operate simultaneously proximate switch-rails and a target and a distant signal, and has for its object to pro vide a simple, strong, and etl'icient device ot this character. 1n such a device it is desirable that the interdependence ot' the switchactuat ing device and the device for operating the distant signal be such as to make itimpossiblc tor theswitch to be open when the signal is set at "sa't'ety. At the same time a combination ot mechanism such that the danger-signal be displayed whenever the switch is open or is in the course ot being' opened or closed is requisite to a satisfactory device. The operating mechanism should be capable otl being' locked, so as to avoid being' tampered with by unauthorized persons.

ln carrying out my invention l provide a supportiiig-plate through which a target-rod passes perpendicularly and at one edge ot which is mounted at either end a wheel which actuates mechanism tor operating' a distant signal. At its lower end the target-rod isadiustably attached to a rod t'or moving' the switch-rails, and removably attached to the target-rod is an operating-lever, to which is hinged a lever-arm. ly the movement of the operating-lever the targeta'od may be rotated and through the adjustable connection the switch-railsl operated. ln the periphery of the supporting-plate are recesses into which the hinged lever-arm otl the operating-lever is adapted to enter, and thus lock the switch trom movement when in the open or closed position. The hinged lever-arm is provided with a device by which it may be locked to the support below any one ot' the recesses in the supporting-plate. On its side next the supporting-plate the signal-operating' wheel is provided with means Vfor engaginggI the hinged lever-arm when the switch is closed and when this arm is depressed the wheel is so turned as to cause the satetwsignal to be exhibited at the distant station, at which position it may be locked. To open the switch, it is necessary to raise the arm. thus settings` the dangersig'nal at the distant station. The arm is then swung' round ninety degrees and the switch thrown open, and during' this movement ot' the arm the outer end otl the operating-lever is thrown into a recess in the periphery ot' the signal-operatiug' wheel, and thus the wheel is locked t'rom movement while the danger-size'u nal is set. Both sides ot' the supporting-plate ai'e made alike and the operating-lever may he removed and inverted. The signal-operating wheel may be removed and mounted on the opposite end otl the supporting-plate, which is synn'netrical with respect to its middle point. Thus the same switch-stand may be used to operate a switch from either side ot' the track and to set a distant signal either before or behind the switch.

In the accompanyiine` drawings, Figure 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in perspective, ot a section ot' track with my switchstand connected with the switch therein. Fig'. 2 is a front elevation ot' the switch-stand, showing its position when the switch is open. Fig'. 3 is a rear elevation ot the switch-stand, showing' its position when the switch is closed. Fig'. A is a plan view ol the device, showing' its position when the switch is closed, the position ot the operatiiig-lever when the switch is open being' shown in dotted lines.

Beside the track adjacent to the switch-rails A, on a suitable support B, is mounted a supporting-plate (l, which is approximatelyy semicircular in plan and is cut away at about its center ot' curvature to admit of the passage vertically therethrough ot' a target-rod l). At each end ot' its diameter and at the middle o't' its curved periphery the plate C is cut away at c, t'or a purpose hereinafter explained. Fastencd to the straight edge otl this plate and serving to hold the target-rod in place is a plate E. having' at each end and slightly above the plane ot' the supporti11g-plate C a hole 1, in which is adapted to l'it a screw-bolt, on which is revolubly mounted a wheel F, on

the circumference of which is mounted in a groove a wire G, which runs to and operates in a well-known manner a signal at a distance, of say, half a mile. The signal has only two readings, danger anc safety, and is so adjusted that it is moved from one position to the other by a quarter-turn of the wheel F. At one point of the circumference of this wheel is a projection f, adjacent to which is a slot f, which engages the end of an operating-lever H, by which the wheel is locked from movement. The projection f is adapted to hold the wire G out from contact with the lever H when the latter is being moved into and out of engagement with the slotf.

The operating-lever H is removably attached to the target-rod just above the supporting-plate C and is adapted to rotate the same. At the lower end of the target-rod is a screw-eye rZ, to which is attached a rod (ZQ which in turn is attached to the switch-rails A. It is obvious that when the target-rod is turned in one way the switch-rails will be drawn toward the switch-stand and the switch closed, while when the target-rod is rotated in the opposite direction the switch will be opened. It will be seen that if the screw-eye (Z is screwed into the target-rod the throw of the switch-rails will be lessened and the reverse. The screw-eye is so adjusted that the switch-rails will be thrown from one position tothe other by a quarter-turn of the targetrod. Ot' course other devices for adjustably connecting the target-rod with the switchrails may be employed.

Hinged to the operating-lever H is a lever arm or handle z, slotted at /1/ to engage one ot the eyebolts I on the support B when the lever is turned down through one of the recesses c in the plate C when the switch is in the eXtreme open or closed position. A padlock may be passed through the outer end of the eyebolt I to secure the whole mechanism from movement.

Diametrically opposite the slot f on the wheel F is a small block K, carrying on opposite sides stops r, between which the lever L extends when the switch is closed. By this arrangement the distant signal is held from accidental movement and may be set by raising or lowering the lever L.

IVhen the distant signal is set at Lsafety and the switch is closed, the stand is in the position show-n in Fig. 3. To set the signal at danger and open the switch, the padlock is removed from the eyebolt I and the lever-arm L is raised to the position shown by dotted lines. In so doing the wheel F, through the stops 7c, is given a quarter-turn, thereby changing the distant signal. The lever-arm and plate H are then turned to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. By this movement the target-rod is given a quarterturn and the switch opened. At the same time the end of the plate H enters the recess f in the wheel F and locks it from movement. The lever-arm it is then depressed and engages the middle eyebolt I, through which the padlock may be passed and the switch and signal again locked.

It will be seen that I have provided a mechanism by which a distant signal is set at danger77 at all times, excepting when the switch is closed, thus avoiding all danger ot' a train running into a partly or fully opened switch.

I claim as my invention l. The combination of a supporting-plate, a wheel,signal-operating means attached to the wheel, a target-rod, switch-operating means attached to the target-rod, an operating-lever attached to the target-rod adapted to engage a recess in and lock the wheel when the switch is open, a lever-arm pivotally connected with the operating -lever adapted to engage the wheel and revolve it when the switch is closed.

2. The combination ot' a supporting-plate, a wheel,signaloperating means attach ed to the wheel, a target-rod, switch-operating means attached to the target-rod, an operating-lever secured to the target-rod adapted to engage a recess in and lock the wheel when the switch is open, a lever-arm pivotally attached to the operating-lever adapted to engage the wheel and revolve it when the switch is closed, and means to lock the mechanism when the switch is in either position.

3. The combination of a supporting-plate having a recess for a target-rod, a vertical target-rod in the recess, a wheel revolubly mounted on the plate and carrying means for operating a distant signal, means connecting the target-rod and switch-rails adjustable so as to regulate the throw of the switch-rails, and means for rotating the target-rod and revolving the wheel and locking them.

In testimony whereofl I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ROBT. E. BROYLES. Writnesses:

I). J. CHAMBERS, I. A. HART.

IOC 

